II Peter 2:1-3

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The next part of II Peter dove into the problem of false teachers. It goes on for quite a few verses so let's take them a bit at a time.

2 Peter 2:1-3 ...

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

How does one spot a false teacher?

There appears to be two areas they err: ideology and behavior.

What are their ideological mistakes?

Heresies are ideas that conflict with the established norm. Thus, if one claims to be a Christian, there are certain beliefs that are part of that claim, in particular beliefs about Jesus the Christ. These false teachers "denied the Sovereign Lord (Christ) who bought them!" If they didn't get the central thing right, they were definitely off to a bad start. Since Peter used the plural for heresy, there was probably other things they had incorrect. But, obviously, if the central teaching of Christianity, who Christ is, was off-line, they were false teachers.

Nothing has changed in a couple thousand years: people today have all sort of ideas about who Jesus was and is. In some cases, they don't claim to be Christians and so at least there is clarity. But, of course, the dangerous ones are those who claim to be Christians yet have odd ideas of who Jesus was and is.

Aside from ideology, there is behavior. What gave them away in 2 Peter's time?

"Shameful ways" ... "Bring disrepute" ... "Greed" ... "Exploitation" ...

Can some of these phrases be used to describe some of the scandals of religious leaders today?

Sadly, many examples can be found for each one of these.

The church is far from perfect. And so what makes an authentic Jesus folllwing community different than a group led by a false teacher?

Hopefully, we turn our shame into confession of sins and eventual reconciliation.

Hopefully, we do our best to make restitution to those we have hurt rather than continue to bring disrepute by covering up sins.

Hopefully, we are characterized by giving of our resources not gathering them in greed.

Hopefully, we are marked by a attitude of being a servant of others and not an exploiter of others.

Lord, help us, as the church who follows the living Lord Jesus, the Christ, be all this and thus true to who you want us to be. Amen.